Boivin: Ailing Boldin has to make tough choice

Anquan Boldin has played a part in some of the NFL's scarier collisions this season, but few have troubled him as much as this one:

The battle between his will and common sense.

Does he compete or sit? Does he play it safe or risk injury? The wide receiver's decision about his injured hamstring is complicated by the high stakes of Saturday's game. Divisional playoff opportunities don't come around often for the Cardinals, who play at Carolina on Saturday night.

"If it was just up to me, I would say I'm going no matter what," Boldin said Wednesday after sitting out practice. "At the same time, you've got to be smart and not damage it further."

With so much at risk, including permanent damage and future contracts, injuries are at the heart of some of the tougher decisions NFL players must make.

San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson wrestled with a Boldin-like decision last week when his groin injury didn't heal fast enough. He remembered what happened last year, when he pushed his injured knee too hard in practice and paid for it during the AFC Championship Game.

He started in Saturday's victory over Indianapolis and scored a touchdown, but left after 1 1/2 quarters because of pain.

Tennessee Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae told a radio station Tuesday that his injured right elbow meant he was "not going to play this week" against Baltimore, but just a few hours later, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he thought the veteran might play. The two clearly weren't on the same page.

It's obvious this decision is weighing heavily on Boldin. His scowl seemed even fiercer this week, his patience shorter. He spent much of practice Wednesday riding an exercise bike and working on the side with a trainer.

Hamstrings are tricky. Boldin receives frequent treatments of ice and massage therapy, but the best healer is time, an athlete's worst enemy.

Like most NFL teams, the Cardinals' medical staff rarely speaks publicly about athletes' injuries. The opportunity to keep the opponent guessing is a bonus.

The decision will be a joint one among Boldin, the coaching staff and the medical team. Coaches want to trust their players but they've learned honesty doesn't always come easily.

"This is the same guy, if you ask him was he open, every time he'll tell you he's open," coach Ken Whisenhunt said, smiling. "Then when you look at the film it's not necessarily true.

"Anquan is a guy who obviously knows his body because of what he's played with in my short experience with him here. That certainly has some merit."

Another element athletes have to consider: contracts. Remember that NFL contracts are not guaranteed. Though more are now being negotiated to include guarantees in case of injury, the potential income loss can be huge.

"Isn't that something," agent Leigh Steinberg said.

"The league with the most injuries in severity and volume has few guarantees."

Boldin's situation is particularly unique. He entered the season with three years left on the four-year, $22. 75 million extension he signed after the 2005 season that keeps him under contract through 2010. At the time, he said the team reneged on an offer to renegotiate and that he desired to be traded.

It's hard to say where his head is these days. He's always been one of the team's gutsier players, and if the window of opportunity to play is open just a crack, he'll be out there.

"He's one of the toughest guys I've ever seen play the game," Rolle said. "Words can't even explain it. This guy, he has the heart of a lion."